Figures last week showed Edinburgh City Council alone coined in £2.4million in parking fines over just three months this summer from a staggering 60,000 penalty notices.

New Forest District Council raised £77,000 from 2,888 fines.

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Edmund King, president of the AA, claimed councils are 'enforcing the rules with a sledgehammer'Credit: Getty Images - Getty

AA President Edmund King stormed: “It is clear that some councils are enforcing the rules with a sledgehammer.

“We need to restore that balance between enforcement and deterrence, between the need for targeted fines that direct driver behaviour - and punishing every single little mistake because it’s a nice little earner for councils and private companies.”

He added: “We are asking for Government intervention to restore fairness.”

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The AA has urged Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to put limits on the number of parking finesCredit: Getty Images - Getty